Signal-operating device for automobiles



M. DEA'N;

SIGNAL OPERATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES} APPLICATION FILED MAY as, 1918.

1 51,745, Patented Sept. 7, 1920.

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' more particularly to automobiles because ployed embodying my inventionwhich conlustre-e era s E. as

MARK DEAN, orsoonv tjuiinw paai srenati rnearine DEV lG-iE FQE me ntime;J1"

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. '7, 1920.

Application filed May s, 1918. serial no. 235.260.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, MARK DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Boonville, Oneida county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Operating Devicesfor Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. Y

The object of my invention is to provide 10 means whereby an electricpush button or any other mechanism employed to sound a horn or to giveor display any other form,

of signal, can be operated more easily, and effectively, thanheretofore.

My invention will, naturally, be applied the giving of a warning signalhas to be done more or less suddenly when occasion arises and ifpossiblewithout interrupting the work of hands or feet in operating thecar. But it is also applicable to all cases where simple pressure canbest be utilized for giving a signal or alarm without attracting ordiverting attention.

Various mechanical-devices can be emsists broadly in providing an easilyoperated pressure arm or rod located within easy reach of the operatorand adapted to be thrown quickly into contact with a signalgivingmechanism and thus cause the same to act immediately in giving saidsignal.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1, is a front elevation of one formof my improved device.

Fig. 2;is a top planthereof. ,Fig. 3, is a detail of the adjustable swivI eled bracket.

"Fig. 4, is a front elevation of a modified form of my improved device.

Fig. 5, is a top view thereof.

Fig. 6, is a detail of the swivel head thereof. .7

Same letters indicate similar parts in the diiferent figures.

A is a portion of the car-door. B, is a portion of the sidewall of thecar. 0, is a rod located horizontally across the car door within easyreach of the knee of the operator, as shown in Fig. 4:, or lower down asshown in Fig. 1, to permit of the upper knee-rod L standing at the kneelevel. D

is an off-setarm at theend of the rod C which may be used, as in thedevice shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to contact with the push;

button for other signal starting device for, 5..

as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 merely toserve as a stop tofurthermovementofthe rod. Taking up the modification shown in Figs. 4:to, 6, E is a swivel-head which serves as a connecting link between therod C and thelever yoke- F or other part of the signal startingmechanism. The rod C,therefore,' I

in this case may hang -simply supported by the-swivel-head and be turnedup out of the way when the car door is opened.

Turning to the form shown in Figs. 1 to i 3'the rod C is supported onthe car door adjusted to the desired position.

From these collars rise respectively the uprights H, J, which terminateat the top in horizontal portions facingeach other and adaptedv to.enter the bore of the upper kneerod L, in which they are moved slidablyto secure the desired length of the device so that the knee of theoperator or some part ofhis leg is sure to strike either the uprights orthe intervening upper rod.

. It is obvious that pressure applied, by the knee-or otherwise, uponthe rod L, or the uprights ILIJ, toward the door willturn V the rod inthe same direction and thus bring the off-set arm D into operatingcontact with the signal starting device.

Tolimit the motion of the rod C and off- 7 set arm D in eitherdirection, a stop. is swiveled on the bracket 1) before referred to andadjustably fixed by the set screw a. V

' As before stated the purpose of this kneerod, as I have called it, inall cases is to have an easily operated pressure device convenientlylocated between the operator and a fixed part offthe signal givingmechanismso that in case it becomes necessary to sound the horn orgive'other warning or signal while the'hands and feet of the operatorare otherwise occupied in. manipulating the car a slight and almostunconscious movement of the knee nearest the knee-i061 \ivill operete'the signal giving device. But, obviously,

this purpose. Therefore I claim Other devices than knee-rods canbe'used-for A knee switch forautomobiles which comprises a rod.rotatably 'mounted upon the,

"side door of an eutomobile,'and provided 1: With an offset armeadaptedto'contact with erator.'. I

v i MARK DEAN. 'Witnessesr"? V i WV, PI.-JPREVBLE,U

A. B. CARBERRY.

